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Rift in APC deepens, as Lagos flays Abuja over Banire

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Rift in APC deepens, as Lagos flays Abuja over Banire

Fractures within the APC arising from steep disagreements between the national and Lagos chapters have fully come to the fore over the lingering controversy surrounding the party’s national legal adviser, Muiz Banire.

The disagreements revolve around Banire’s role in the Lagos APC primaries leading up to the just-concluded local government elections which eventually led to his suspension and its subsequent overturn.

As many political watchers had argued, contrary to what was being publicly portrayed as a Mushin APC affair, there existed powerful forces within the highest levels of the Lagos APC power bloc that were behind the sustained push for Banire’s ouster.

Many had claimed that he stirred the hornet’s nest, to almost irrevocable consequence, when he challenged the position of the party’s foremost national leader, Bola Tinubu, regarding automatic tickets, a practice that had long been entrenched as a culture in the chapter of the party, against the protestations of advocates for open and competitive democratic process.

Read also: Rumble in APC, as Abuja overrules Lagos over Banire

The open and scathing official reaction of the Lagos State APC chapter to the national leadership’s announced decision overruling the suspension of Banire, appears to confirm the long-held suspicions of political watchers.

In a Statement issued by APC Lagos State Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, the chapter described the position of the national leadership as hasty and flawed, insisting that the local chapter’s suspension of Banire was appropriate.

Igbokwe particularly criticized the Acting National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, who issued the statement announcing the overrule of Banire’s suspension, by questioning his understanding of the party’s inner workings and appearing to make subtle political threat over his continuing in office since his confirmation was still pending.

He said, “Is BOLAJI not aware that he is not yet a substantive National Publicity Secretary until otherwise stated in a Congress? Does it not amount to brigandage and playing to the gallery by naming himself the National Publicity Secretary when the position is still enmeshed in controversy?

“Is Bolaji not learning one or two lessons from the former National Assistant Publicity Secretary, Timi Frank whose problem started from his local chapter? This emergency step into Banire’s matter cannot fly”.

He argued that the leaders and followers in the local chapters of the party have a lawful right to suspend any erring official.

“Let it be made known that the National Executive Committee of our great Party acted in a haste to try to rescue the sagging and battered image of Muiz Banire who is having a running battle with his political base in Lagos. The Lagos Chapter of APC will support and encourage our patriotic and hardworking followers from Mushin LGA to exercise their fundamental human rights without let or hindrance,” Igbokwe said.

Observers will be watching closely to see what developments will follow next in this intriguing political drama that is almost becoming a proxy war between the power brokers in Abuja and Lagos, over what many argue are longstanding disagreements revolving around political control and influence.

 

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